Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekmirka’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekmirka’, characterized by its decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped, bright white-colored ray florets that are revolute and slightly twisted; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekmirka’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Dekmirka’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars with interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 15, 2002, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum identified as code number 96717,01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum selection identified as code number 99.4296,01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since September, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dekmirka has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dekmirka’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dekmirka’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped,         bright white-colored ray florets that are revolute and slightly         twisted; typically grown as a spray-type.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants         of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller leaves than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection         differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the male parent         selection had whitish pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Eurobelle, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,659. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Eurobelle in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were brighter         white in color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar         Eurobelle.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants         of the cultivar Eurobelle.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer ray florets, but         more disc florets than plants of the cultivar Eurobelle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Dekmirka’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of upper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘Dekmirka’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5 to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5 to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     Dekmirka. -   Commercial classification: Decorative-type Chrysanthemum typically     grown as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 96717,01,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number             99.4296,01, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut Chrysanthemum;             typically grown as a spray-type; erect and strong flowering             stems. Vigorous.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 80 to 90 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown             as single stems. Color: 146B to 146C.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 8             to 11 cm. Width: About 6 to 8 cm. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Pinnately lobed. Texture, upper and lower             surface: Pubescent; rough. Petiole length: About 3 to 5 cm.             Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 137B. Developing             foliage, lower surface: Between 137C and 138A. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: Closest to 137B to 137C.             Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Between 137C and             138A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 138B. Petiole,             upper and lower surfaces: 138B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with             elongated oblong-shaped ray florets that are revolute and             slightly twisted. Inflorescences borne on terminals above             foliage. Disk and ray florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant. Typically grown as a             spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 6.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about three weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 15 to             20 inflorescences per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 to 8 cm. Depth             (height): About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 7 mm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 4 to 6 mm. Diameter: About             8 to 11 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 138A.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.1 to 5 cm. Width: About 2 to             14 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong; revolute and slightly             twisted. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Fused; tubular. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 140 in             numerous whorls. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: 155C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces:             Whiter and brighter than 155C; towards the base, 145C.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 4 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 80. Color: Immature: 145A to 145B. Mature: Apex: 145A.             Mid-section: 13C. Base: 150D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm.             Angle: About 60° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther color: 151B. Pollen color: 23A. Gynoecium:             Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma length: About             1 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma color: Towards             the apex, 151B; towards the base, 144C to 144D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekmirka’, as illustrated and described. 